NSW Farmers is a growing, member-based grass roots not-for-profit association that effectively lobbies for its members.
How will ag tech and big data change the skills base needed in rural and regional areas?
Ag tech and big data will change the type and location of existing jobs in rural and regional areas. Some traditional hands-on jobs will no longer exist but improved technology and telecommunications will mean certain jobs will not need to be located in a city and more tele/remote workers will exist in rural and regional areas.
How do you envision such new technology applying to the rural sector?
In the future there will be reduced intensive labour, traceability and production management, and more precise management decisions leading to improved returns and productivity.
What do rural communities need to, or can do to adapt?
Communities need to market themselves.
They need to make it easy for business and people to move, be open to increasing population size and diversity.
They also need to look for opportunities and for value added businesses to process agricultural product in regional locations.
How can businesses encourage the uptake of new technology in rural and regional Australia?
Businesses shouldn’t rely on government.
Business owners should seek out solutions to enable technology and work collaboratively to make it happen.
How can your organisation help grow towns or businesses in regional NSW?
Building the agriculture sector will grow regional NSW.
Do you have any initiatives to attract young people to your organisation or to reskill older workers?
NSW Farmers lobbied for the Department of Primary Industries Young Farmer Business program, which is continuing to host successful education forums for aspiring young farmers and fishers across the state.
We have established dedicated young farmer branches and have a young farmer council.